Apparatus for treating cartons with melted wax



4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 18, 1938. l. KQTCHER ET Al.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARTONS WITH MELTED WAX Filed Jan. 30, 1937 Oct. 18,1938. 1. KoTcHl-:R ET AL '2,133,390

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARToNs WITH MELTED WAX Filed Jan. 50, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I By www A forneys Oct. 18, 1938. l. KOTCHER ET Al. 2,133,390

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARTONS WITH MELTED WAX Filed Jari. so, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 5 By, VY d Attorneys Oct. 18, 1938. KoTcHER ET AL 2,133,390

APPARATUS FoR TREATING cARToNs WITH MELTED wAx Filed Jan. 50, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ll/I/ lll l ll l Il l//f l [l l l l/ Inventor@- as clearlyshown in Figure 1. A.I includes a pair of spaced plates orrdiscs 6 which 'at their peripheries are connected together by Patented Oct. 18, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARTONS WITH MELTED WAX v Irwin Kutcher and Morris Kotcher,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1937, Serial No. 123,285

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus or means for immersing paper cartons or receptaclesin melted wax or the like and. for cooling the yWax coated cartons for the purpose of rendering the cartons impervious to air and liquid.

More particularly the invention is concerned with a`n apparatus for coating the interior and exterior of `paper receptacles such as form the subject matter of our co-pending applications Serial Nos. 1l5,016a nd 115,015 filed respectively December9, 1936 and entitled Cartons respectively.

The present invention together with its objects and advantages will be` best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a View mostly in section showing our improved apparatus.-

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the immersing apparatus.

Figures 3, 4 and 6 are detail views taken substantially on the lines 3--3, 4 4, and 6-6 respectively of Figure 1. f

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 2 and Figure 7 is a detail view of a cam disc hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring to the drawings by reference numer als it will be seen that inthe preferred embodiment thereof the apparatus comprises 'an immersing wheel indicated by the-reference numeral I mounted in a chamber or tank'2, the walls of which are suitably insulated as shown in Figure 2 and wherein is a bath 3 of melted wax or the like. f

The immersing wheel I is fast on a shaft l journaled in suitable bearings 5 provided therefor in opposed walls of the chamber or` tank 2 The said wheel a circular series of radially extending carton receiving pockets or cages 1.

Each of the pockets I is formed preferably of Wire consisting of a pair of opposed U-shaped members which at their open ends are suitably secured to the peripheries of the discs 6 by being welded or otherwise secured thereto, and intermediate U-shaped members connected with each other and with the first mentioned members by -cross pieces, as shown. The bottoms ofthe pockets are formed by wire rods or the like bridging the space between the discs and respectively welded or otherwise secured at their respective opposite ends to the peripheral edges of the discs.

While We have described somewhat in detail the structure of the pockets I it is to be understood that any suitable pocket structure may be resorted to, it being essential only that the pook,- ets be of cage-like formation and opened at their respective opposite sides to permit insertion of a carton into each pocket from one side thereof and the ejection of the carton from a pocket from the opposite side thereof.

This cage-like form of pocket will permit the wax to reach all portions of the carton, both interiorly and exteriorly.

Leading into one side of the chamber or tank 2 is one end of a platform 9 that is in line with one end of an endless conveyor I0 which leads from the carton making machine or other source of supply and which carries the cartons to the platform 9 on to which the cartons successively pass from the conveyor I0 to be successively forced into the successive pockets 1 of the wheel I. l

For ejecting or forcing the immersed cartons successively from the pockets 1 there is slidably mounted in one wall of' thetank or chamber 2 a plunger I I, and leading from the tank or chamber 2 at the side thereof opposite to the plunger II Vis a platform I2 on to which the ejected and wax coated cartons pass one at a time as will be clear from a study of Figure 5.

Leading from the platform I2 is an inclined chute I3 and at the junction of the upper end of the chute I3 and the platform I2 there is profvided a raised portion I4 which serves to trip the successive cartons 8 to upset them as they pass vfrom the pla*fcrm I2 on to the chute I3 so as to bedelivered by the chute I3 in an inverted position on to an endless conveyor I5. At the lower end thereof the chute I3 is provided with a perpendicular apron I3a and also with an end I3b that serves to position the cartons perpendicularly on the conveyor I5 through the medium of which conveyor the cartons are carried through a cooling chamber I6.

The conveyor i6 consists of an endless belt I5a trained over suitable rollers I5b and the conveyor `is driven from any suitable source of power.

Arranged in the cooling chamber I6 isl a suitd and practically immediate cooling of the wax adhering to the walls, internally and exteriorly of the cartons.

To provide for a forced draft of cold air about the carton thereby insuring a quick cooling of the hot melted wax there are provided in the chamber at the top and bottom thereof suitably mounted fans I9 driven by electric motors 20.

as shown in Figure 1.

From the chamber I6 the wax treated cartons are carried to the point remote from the chamber I6 where they are filled with milk or the like.

To guard against the cartons slipping out of the pockets 1 from either side thereof there are provided at opposite sides of the wheel I substantially circular guide rails 22, 23 and the guide rail 23 at one side of the platform I2 has a suitable end 23a provided to assist in setting the cartons upright as they are forced from the pockets 1 on to the platform I2.

There is also suitably provided a power shaft 24. This shaft is equipped with a cam disc 25 provided with a cam groove 26.

Mounted on one side of the tank or chamber -2 is a bracket 21 to which is pivoted as at 29 one end of a lever 29 the upper end of which has a lost motion connection 30 with the shank of the plunger I I. Adjacent its pivoted end the lever 29 is provided with a laterally extending pin or roller 3| which works in the cam groove 26 in a manner to cause a rocking movement of the lever 29 for projecting and retracting the plunger II in timed relation to the wheel I so that each time a carton filled pocket 1 passes into position aligning with the yplunger I I the plunger will be forced to the full line position shown in Figure 1 for ejecting the carton from the pocket and positioning the carton on to the platform I2.

Adjacent the end thereof connectedwith the plunger l I, lever 29 is equipped with a dog 32, clockwise movement .of which is limited by a suitably provided pin 33.

The dog 32 is cooperable with a ratchet wheel 34 provided on the roller shaft 35 of the conveyor I0, which shaft 35 is journaled in suitable brackets 36 extending from a side wall of the tank or chamber 2 as shown.

It will thus be seen that each time the lever 29 moves to the dotted line position shown in Figure l, dog 32 will engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 34 so that as the lever 29 moves from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Figure 1 for ejecting a wax coated carton conveyor I will be motivated for transferring a carton therefrom on to the platform 9 with the result that the forwardmost carton on the platform 9 will be forced into an empty pocket 1 that is in alignment with the inner end of the platform 9.

For imparting intermittent motion to the Wheel I in timed relation to the operation of the plunger II and the conveyor I0 there is provided ori the shaft 4 a disc 31. The wheel or disc 31 is provided in the periphery thereof with a circular series of notches `38 as shown in Figure 3 and provided on the shaft 24 is a disc 39 that is equipped with an eccentrically located pin 49 cooperable with the notches 38 for transmitting rotative movement of the shaft 24 to the shaft 4 for rotating the shaft 4 and the wheel I associated therewith step by step for successively bringing the pockets 1 in alignment withfthe platform 9 and the plunger II whereby as a coated carton is ejected from a pocket a carton from the source of supply is being. positioned within `an empty pocket 1. l

To preclude pre-rotation to the shaft 4 and shown in Figure 3 so as to have bearing engagement on the periphery of the disc 31 in a manner to offer resistance to the rotation of the shaft 4 and Wheel I associated with the shaft. From the description of the invention thus far, it Will be apparent that in operation intermittent motion is imparted to the wheel I, the feed conveyor I0, and the plunger II to the end that as an empty pocket 1 moves into alignment with the platform 9 the wheel I comes to rest while the conveyor I0 is set into'operation to feed a carton from the conveyor I0 on to the platform 9 and also to feed the forwardmost carton on the platform 9 into the empty pocket 1 aligning with the platform while at the same time plunger II moves inwardly to engage a coated carton in that pocket 1 in alignment with the plunger II so that said coated carton will be forced from the said pocket on to the platform I2 forcing from the platform I2 the previously deposited coated carton, which latter,'in an inverted. position is directed by the chute I3 on to the conveyor I5 to subsequently passwith the conveyor I5 through the cooling chamber I6 for subjecting the hot coating exteriorly and interiorly of the carton to a relatively low temperature for cooling and hardening the wax coating of the carton as it -rpasses through the chamber I6.

The operation described is controlled through the medium of the cam disc 25 and the roller 3l carried by the lever 29 and operating in the cam groove 26. 'Ihus it will be furtherappreciated that after-each operation of ejecting a coated carton from a pocket 1 on to the platform I2 lever 29 moves from the full line position shown in Figure 8 to the dotted line position shown therein for engaging the dog 32 with the ratchet wheel 34 so that as the roller 3| comes into the position within the cam groove 26 shown in Figure 7 lever 29 will be again caused to move from the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 to the full line position shown therein so that the operation of placing a carton into an empty pocket 1 and the ejecting of a coated carton from the pocket 1 on to the platform I2 is repeated.

It will also be appreciated that' the timing of the operations may be as found desirable to the end that a number of cartonsjmay be immersed with wax and subsequently fed through the cooling chamber within a minimum amount of time.

For maintaining the temperature of the wax bath within the chamber I at a predetermined degree there is provided at the bottom of the tank or chamber 2 a coil 42 through which live steam or other heat medium may be caused to circulate, a supply pipe for the coil 42 being shown in Figure 2 and indicated by the reference numeral 43. Pipe 43 is provided with a suitable valve 44 that is controlled by a thermostat 45 which is set to operate the valve 44 and in a predetermined temperature degree.

Also that the operator may readily ascertain the temperature of the melted wax within the tank or chamber 2 there is suitably provided a. thermometer 46 that is electrically connected with a suitable indicator (not shown) which may be located at a point convenient to the operator.

An electric motor or the like may be provided for driving the shaft 24 and the motor in the contemplation of the invention is controlled by asuitable switch 41 including an operative arm 48 that is suitably connected with the stem of a float 49 whereby the switch 41 is opened or closed in response to a rise or drop of the level of the wax bath 3.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is suitably mounted in the upper portion' of the tank or chamber 2 a xed tray 50 that is adapted to receive blocks of wax placed therein through a suitable opening provided in the wall of the tank or chamber 2, and for which opening there is provided a hinged door I.

'Iray 50 is provided with a false wire bottom 52 beneath which is positioned an electrical heating unit 53.

The bottom of the tray 5I is inclined as at 54 and from the bottom 54 leads a feed pipe 55 through which the melted wax flows into the tank from the tray III.- -For controlling the ilow of wax through the discharge 55 there is pro-- vided a valve 55 having an. operating stem that extends through a suitablel opening provided therefor in the wall of the tank or chamber 2 and isequipped at its outer end with a hand wheel or the like 51 through the medium of which the valve 56 may heu operated from without the tank or chamber 2. y l

Also, for draining the tank or chamber 2 there is -provided at the bottom of the tank or chamber a suitable drain valve 58 and in this connection it will be noted that the bottom of the tank or i.

when the carton leaves the wax, it is turned intov an inverted position again, so that the wax will drain through the opening of the carton and by the time the ,carton reaches the ejecting position, all surplus wax will have drained therefrom.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new isz- 1. A carton coating device comprising a receptacle having coating material in its lower part, a vertically arranged wheel rotatably arranged `in the receptacle and extending into the material, radially extending cage-like pockets on` the periphery of the wheeL'the sides of each pocket being open, said pockets being fully. immersed in the material when that part of the wheel carrying the pockets enters the material, feeding means for placing a carton in each pocket when .the pocket reaches the top of the wheel, through one open s'ide of the pocket, a plunger, means for y rotating the wheel in a step by step manner and means associated-'with the rotating means for' operating the feeding means and the plunger while the wheel is stationary for ejecting a coated carton from the opposite side of each p'ocket Just before the pocket reaches receiving position.

2. A carton coating device comprising a receptionary.

tacle having coating material in its lower part, a vertically-arranged wheel rotatably arranged inthe receptacle and extending into the material, radially extending cage-like pockets on the periphery of the wheel, the sides of each pocket being open, feeding means-for placing a carton in each pocket when the pocket reaches the top of the wheel, through one open side of the pocket,

a second means for ejecting a coated carton from the opposite side of each pocket just beforethe pocket reaches receiving position, means for rotating the wheel in a step by step manner, and means for simultaneously operating -the feeding means and the ejecting means while the wheel is stationary.

3. A carton treating machine comprising a tank having coating material in its lower part, a vertically arranged wheel rotatably supported in-the tank and having a part located in the material, radiallyarranged cage-like pockets connected with the'periphery of the wheel, each pocket having an entrance opening at one side of the wheel and a discharge opening at the opposite side thereof, feeding means entering the tank for placing a carton in a pocket when the pocket is at the top of the wheel, an ejector entering the tank slightly in advance of the feeding means for ejecting a treated carton from a pocket just before the pocket reaches the feeding position, said ejector forcing a carton through the discharge opening, said tank having an opening therein, a platform extending inwardly from the bottom wall of the opening for receiving the cartons passing from the discharge openings, an inclined chute leading from the opening in the tank, means for inverting a carton as they pass through the chute, a' cooling chamber, and a conveyor receiving' the cartons from the chute and passing them through the cooling chamber.

4. A carton coating machine comprising a tank having coating material in its lower part, a ver-- tically arranged'wheel rotatably supported in the tank and having a portion located in the material, radially arranged cage-like pockets connected with the peripheryof the wheel, each pocket having a receiving opening at one side vof the wheel and a discharge opening at the opposite side thereof and the tank having a feeding opening at one side thereof arid a discharge opening at the opposite side thereof, rings in the tank a pocket through the feeding opening of the tank, such means being at the top of the wheel, means for giving the wheel a step by step rotation, and means for operating the ejector means and the feeding Ameans while the wheel is sta- IRWIN KOTCHER.

Monats 1ro-roman. 

